James O'Brien

Hockey Daily Dose

Getting the band back together

In Tuesday’s Daily Dose, we discussed how proactive fantasy hockey owners should look at their group of goaltenders as an ever-changing (and possibly expanding) collection. To extend the analogy to Tuesday’s biggest news items, NHL teams were like that desperate collector who sold a favorite childhood toy: they just had to rekindle the old magic by trading for an old favorite.

Even if they were just two deals, they might just rank in first and second place during a 2013 season that really hasn’t seen much activity on the trade front just yet. Keep in mind that the trade deadline isn’t that far away at April 5, so if this creates a snowball effect, things could start getting really interesting.

BERGEVIN’S PRANK

When many of us scrambled to find out more about Marc Bergevin (beyond the fact that he enjoyed a hearty NHL career) when he was hired as the new Montreal Canadiens GM, the common story was that he was a big prankster.

Amid the shock and awe, many stats-leaning people were quick to downgrade the reactions about how lopsided it was. While I think it was a clear victory for Montreal - is anyone willing to believe that Bergevin wouldn’t have accepted that deal if the draft pick wasn’t involved? - for fantasy purposes, those hyper-logical folks probably aren’t too far off.

COLE’S OUTLOOK

Cole has been traded three times in his NHL career for a variety of reasons, but one of them is that he has a tendency to disappoint. My biggest beef is that when his offensive numbers decline, he doesn’t take a bunch of bad penalties that justify his shaky status as a power forward.

(Look, I know NHL teams feel the opposite, but that’s the comic beauty of the PIM.)

He’s been just a 48-49 PIM guy the last two seasons and hasn’t had a more substantial amount since he racked up an appetizing 73 in 2008-09. (He seems far removed from his career-high of 93 in 03-04, though.)

Of course, the biggest negative is his pitiful production in 2013: just three goals and six points in 19 games. Worse yet, he’s barely shooting for a guy like him, with 41 SOG.

Beyond the natural motivation that comes with providing yourself to a new team, Cole should be in a far more lucrative situation. He could very well get the dream role of skating alongside Jamie Benn (if so, Brenden Morrow could be the big loser there), but even if he rolls with Loui Eriksson and/or Derek Roy like Michael Ryder did for much of 2013, his situation should be much improved.

In fact, if you’re hurting for a solid mid-level sniper, I’d give him an audition. He’s owned in just 27 percent of Yahoo leagues at the moment. It's true that Cole has never played for the Stars, but there should be some familiarity with former teammate Ray Whitney on the team and Mark Recchi in the front office.

STRIDING WITH RYDER

While Cole is likely to see a smattering of talented linemates one way or another, it’s a little tougher to say the same for Ryder because, simply, Montreal doesn’t have as many quality forwards to offer.

Cole received some time with a quality guy like Max Pacioretty, his most common linemate is David Desharnais. The diminutive center is an inspiration, but maybe not the kind of guy who will drive Ryder’s numbers.

Great players put up stats no matter what, but middle-of-the-pack guys tend to need a little more help. The linemates and tighter Habs system makes me think this might be a good time to sell high(-ish) on Ryder, although you might just have to ride this one out because he’s not the kind of flashy guy who will yield a great bounty.

Ryder was originally drafted by Montreal, so it should be more comfortable from an outside-the-rink standpoint.

Overall, Cole’s value climbs while Ryder’s hits a wall, although I still think Montreal got the better end of the deal in reality.

Jump for the other noteworthy trade and more.

In Tuesday’s Daily Dose, we discussed how proactive fantasy hockey owners should look at their group of goaltenders as an ever-changing (and possibly expanding) collection. To extend the analogy to Tuesday’s biggest news items, NHL teams were like that desperate collector who sold a favorite childhood toy: they just had to rekindle the old magic by trading for an old favorite.

Even if they were just two deals, they might just rank in first and second place during a 2013 season that really hasn’t seen much activity on the trade front just yet. Keep in mind that the trade deadline isn’t that far away at April 5, so if this creates a snowball effect, things could start getting really interesting.

BERGEVIN’S PRANK

When many of us scrambled to find out more about Marc Bergevin (beyond the fact that he enjoyed a hearty NHL career) when he was hired as the new Montreal Canadiens GM, the common story was that he was a big prankster.

Amid the shock and awe, many stats-leaning people were quick to downgrade the reactions about how lopsided it was. While I think it was a clear victory for Montreal - is anyone willing to believe that Bergevin wouldn’t have accepted that deal if the draft pick wasn’t involved? - for fantasy purposes, those hyper-logical folks probably aren’t too far off.

COLE’S OUTLOOK

Cole has been traded three times in his NHL career for a variety of reasons, but one of them is that he has a tendency to disappoint. My biggest beef is that when his offensive numbers decline, he doesn’t take a bunch of bad penalties that justify his shaky status as a power forward.

(Look, I know NHL teams feel the opposite, but that’s the comic beauty of the PIM.)

He’s been just a 48-49 PIM guy the last two seasons and hasn’t had a more substantial amount since he racked up an appetizing 73 in 2008-09. (He seems far removed from his career-high of 93 in 03-04, though.)

Of course, the biggest negative is his pitiful production in 2013: just three goals and six points in 19 games. Worse yet, he’s barely shooting for a guy like him, with 41 SOG.

Beyond the natural motivation that comes with providing yourself to a new team, Cole should be in a far more lucrative situation. He could very well get the dream role of skating alongside Jamie Benn (if so, Brenden Morrow could be the big loser there), but even if he rolls with Loui Eriksson and/or Derek Roy like Michael Ryder did for much of 2013, his situation should be much improved.

In fact, if you’re hurting for a solid mid-level sniper, I’d give him an audition. He’s owned in just 27 percent of Yahoo leagues at the moment. It's true that Cole has never played for the Stars, but there should be some familiarity with former teammate Ray Whitney on the team and Mark Recchi in the front office.

STRIDING WITH RYDER

While Cole is likely to see a smattering of talented linemates one way or another, it’s a little tougher to say the same for Ryder because, simply, Montreal doesn’t have as many quality forwards to offer.

Cole received some time with a quality guy like Max Pacioretty, his most common linemate is David Desharnais. The diminutive center is an inspiration, but maybe not the kind of guy who will drive Ryder’s numbers.

Great players put up stats no matter what, but middle-of-the-pack guys tend to need a little more help. The linemates and tighter Habs system makes me think this might be a good time to sell high(-ish) on Ryder, although you might just have to ride this one out because he’s not the kind of flashy guy who will yield a great bounty.

Ryder was originally drafted by Montreal, so it should be more comfortable from an outside-the-rink standpoint.

Overall, Cole’s value climbs while Ryder’s hits a wall, although I still think Montreal got the better end of the deal in reality.

That’s some hearty praise, but before concussions threw his career into serious turmoil, the speedy winger was something special. He had two 40+ and two more 30+ seasons with the Philadelphia Flyers, who brought Gagne back from the Los Angeles Kings for a fourth-round pick that will turn into a third-rounder if the Flyers scratch their way into the 2013 playoffs.

Looking at Gagne’s 2013 stats, he seems like a shell of a shell of a shell of himself. How can the best pure sniper Foppa ever laid his eyes on have just five points - all assists - in 11 ineffective games for Los Angeles?

Well, there’s little doubt that age and injuries have put a whooping on him. Still, let me throw out a whacky theory: fringe forwards have an odd habit of scoring a lot more when they’re released from the shackles of the Kings’ system.

Teddy Purcell went from a nobody to a guy worth noting. Lars Eller is a nice piece some think could help the Habs land Ryan O’Reilly. Even Andrei Loktionov is already flourishing in New Jersey, with three points in four games.

Does that mean Gagne is a no-brainer? Not necessarily, but there are other things to like. He’s in the emboldening Flyers system, which has transformed silver guys like Jakub Voracek, Scott Hartnell and Wayne Simmonds to gold.

Gagne’s also in a contract year and should have a clear path to solid opportunities because Tye McGinn (two weeks) and Matt Read (at least a month) are on the shelf.

Sure, he could also be a retread relegated to fourth line duty like Mike Knuble, but Gagne’s just 32 (an old 32, yet still). I’m not saying rush out and grab him, but at least put the guy on your watch list.

Oh yeah, he’s in a contract year, too.

ROCKING LIKE EVANDER KANE

I’ve mentioned him before, but seriously, what about the work by Evander Kane? It’s been a good year for players with his last name, as Patrick Kane is following a similar path of controversy followed by career-best work.

Anyway, Kane should be especially appreciated because he likely came quite a bit cheaper. After a cold start to February, he’s absolutely on fire; Kane now has an eight-game points streak. Instead of settling for a measly goal or assist as he did in the previous seven contests, he poured it on with a two-goal, one-assist night against the New York Rangers.

Matt Duchene is dealing with a groin injury. He’s been downright sensational this season, so hopefully it’s only a few days … Cal Clutterbuck is on the IR. Don’t be glum about it, though; this will allow him time to watch more hockey. I hear Taylor Hall is fun to follow … Whoever had Feb. 26 in a Sami Salo (lower-body) injury pool, collect your winnings at the front desk … Congrats to Tomas Kopecky on his first career hat trick. I’ll even give him credit for an ENG because it featured a high level of difficulty … Braden Holtby might just be worth an expensive draft pick, after all. Color me surprised … Derick Brassard’s day-to-day with an upper-body injury. His name is tricky to spell, by the way … Martin Brodeur's on the IR now ... Looks like Kari Lehtonen might return on Thursday ... Both Alexander Steen and Andy McDonald were hurt in Blues practice on Tuesday. Not good … Marcus Johansson is day-to-day with an upper-body issue. Thanks to concussions, I’m always more worried when I see UBI instead of LBI, even if those guys could be suffering something as insignificant as tennis elbow for all we know.